EAST BRUNSWICK–The East Brunswick Police Department launched a traffic safety improvement project, including reduced speed limit at a township school.
The police department proposed, and was able to pass, an amendment to the township’s speed limit ordinance, which added a “school zone speed limit” to the streets surrounding the Middlesex County Vocational Technical High School, according to a statement provided by the East Brunswick Police Department.
This amendment added the statutory 25 mph school zone speed limit to the portions of Rues Lane and Summerhill Road directly adjacent to the school during recess or when the presence of children is clearly visible from the roadway or while children are going to or leaving school during opening or closing hours, according to police.
The Middlesex County Department of Planning and Engineering assisted with the project, while the Middlesex County Road Department installed the signage along both roadways, according to the statement.
Police would also like to remind motorists of the importance of school bus safety, and the laws surrounding passing a stopped school bus.
According to state law under the section, Passing Stopped School Buses:
- On a two-lane highway, or other road not divided by some type of safety island or physical barrier, stop at least 25 feet from a stopped school bus with flashing red lights whether or not you are traveling in the same direction as the bus.
- Stop at least 25 feet from a stopped school bus with flashing red lights if you are on a divided highway and on the same side of the highway as the school bus. Remain stopped until all students are safely on the bus or on the side of the highway, and until the bus’s flashing red lights have been turned off.
- Vehicles approaching a stopped school bus – but from the opposite side of a roadway separated by safety islands or physical traffic separation installations – that is picking up or letting off students may pass at 10 mph or less and must remain at that speed until completely past the stopped school bus.
- Travel no faster than 10 mph by a stopped school bus that is picking up or letting off students directly at a school or day camp or any school-related activity located on the same side of the highway where the school bus is stopped. Note: School bus drivers are required to use flashing red lights when their bus is stopped to pick up or drop off students, and until every student is safely on the bus or clear of the bus and highway.
A violation of these laws results in a $100 fine and up to 15 days in jail or up to 15 days community service for a first offense. For subsequent offenses, violators can receive a $250 fine or more and up to 15 days in jail. Five points are added to a driver’s record for each offense, according to police.
For more information, visit www.eastbrunswick.org/EBPD or call 732-390-6900.